I've been watching Mad Men during past few days for the first time. It feels super inappropriate during the age of #metoo. I even became a little triggered which is weird considering I have fairly inappropriate sense of humour.

Recently watched the first season of the new Lost in Space. Do I like it? For the most part, yeah.

Quite a few parts of it just bored me, though. It feels "stretched" in a lot of episodes, like they needed to work on some of those scripts a bit longer than Netflix's "get a full season out as quick as we can" philosophy allowed. But I don't think any show on the platform can avoid that to a certain extent.

That having been said, when I was engaged by it I had a lot of fun. The central relationships are adequately conveyed by the performances. The child actors are really good for their ages. Not sure if I like Penny as a character, but Mina Sundwall definitely knocks the "snarky, precocious but vulnerable teen" schtick out of the park. Molly Parker (who is... very easy to look at, I might add) did a great job as passive aggressive Tiger Mom, too. The character arcs for both of the Robinson parents were very well written.

Parker Posey as Dr. Smith is probably going to be one of the sticking points for a lot of people. She's an actress that I always want to like, but I'm never quite sure if I actually think she's any good at it. Most of the time in this show she almost makes Dr. Smith seem stoned or something. I guess the idea is that she's this completely detached psychopath- empty inside and only mimicking human emotion when it suits her. I suppose I like the performances more than I dislike them, looking back.

The character I did not like for most of the series was Don West. For whatever reason, Ignacio Serricchio is basically doing a Matt LeBlanc impression the whole time (in fact, this series has quite a few strange nods to the 1995 movie- no color-changing CGI space monkey yet) but he never quite rises to LeBlanc's level of charisma. The character kind of redeems himself in the last three episodes, but I don't blame anybody who dropped the series just because they couldn't stand him before that point. I just hope they don't do what I think they're going to and hook him up with Judy like in the movie (and in the series? I've only seen part of a single episode). Yes, the character's (barely) legal, and kind of a girl Doogie Howser for some reason, but she still looks like a teenager and he... doesn't.

The robot was easily the best part of the whole show. I was a little disappointed that they made him a humanoid for the vast majority of it and the color scheme is a little generic, but I love what they did with his "monitor" and I'm excited to see what he's been warning them about this whole season (hoping we'll get to see his home planet). Making the robot an alien was kind of a risky choice I suppose, but I think the performance of the actor combined with the plot twists we get pretty much make up for it.

The creature designs on the planet were... ok, just kind of generic feeling, sadly.

So, it wasn't the best sci-fi show I've ever seen. But it was definitely better than average and I hope it gets renewed.

I have Star Wars Episode IV: The Empire Strikes Back, on repeat. I'm watching the new Marvel series, Legion. I don't always watch TV though. Probably 50% of the time that I do, it's Criminal Intent. It's because I was raised at a Flying J.

It was a long time ago, however.

« Last Edit: April 26, 2018, 02:14:38 AM by mcarmichael »

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"If God if for us, who can be against us?" - St. Paul the Apostle"Just hang on!" - Luke Skywalker

"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx

When a time revolts against eternity, the only thing to set against it is genuine eternity itself, and not some other time which has already roused, and not without reason, a violent reaction against itself.

- Berdyaev

If you would like a private forum for non-polemical topics, comment here.

I do! I do sit here and look at a computer monitor. Even 95% of my "tv" watching these days is done using a laptop. My descent into madness is nearly complete

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"Well, do I convince you, that one ought never to despair of the disorders of the soul as incurable? ...For even if thou shouldst despair of thyself ten thousand times, I will never despair of thee" - St. John Chrysostom

"Well, do I convince you, that one ought never to despair of the disorders of the soul as incurable? ...For even if thou shouldst despair of thyself ten thousand times, I will never despair of thee" - St. John Chrysostom

Caught up with Silicon Valley season 5 (finale is tomorrow night). I'm still laughing a good bit, but it feels like the weakest writing yet, the first few episodes seemed more mean-spirited than usual, and for the first time I'm experiencing the frustration a lot of people have voiced over the years about them jogging in place.

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"Well, do I convince you, that one ought never to despair of the disorders of the soul as incurable? ...For even if thou shouldst despair of thyself ten thousand times, I will never despair of thee" - St. John Chrysostom

Thoroughly enjoyed the first season of Runaways. Currently arranging to get into B99.

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'Evil isn't the real threat to the world. Stupid is just as destructive as evil, maybe more so, and it's a hell of a lot more common. What we really need is a crusade against stupid. That might actually make a difference.'~Harry Dresden

I wanted to watch Krypton, but I didn't get good reception on Episode 1.

Still need to watch it, but for some reason, I'm a lot more positively disposed to the idea of it than I ever was to Gotham. Maybe because it doesn't mess with with Clark's backstory or supporting characters the way it did with Bruce, Seyg-El was always a very minor character in the comics AFAIK. Maybe because I'm just a sucker for DC Cosmic (even if it is Siffy and David S. Gagmewithaspoonyer).

Is anyone watching Cobra-Kai on youtube? I just found it last night, maybe it was the first day of release, idk.

Apparently it is produced by youtube, so I don't know if it's available in Canada. No idea what the plot is. I find myself feeling more sympathetic towards the anti-hero, v. the car salesman. It could be interesting, in an existential sense. Or, it could be lame as a dead duck. It's free, however, so I likely will continue to follow this series, and Maru the cat.

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"If God if for us, who can be against us?" - St. Paul the Apostle"Just hang on!" - Luke Skywalker

Is anyone watching Cobra-Kai on youtube? I just found it last night, maybe it was the first day of release, idk.

Apparently it is produced by youtube, so I don't know if it's available in Canada. No idea what the plot is. I find myself feeling more sympathetic towards the anti-hero, v. the car salesman. It could be interesting, in an existential sense. Or, it could be lame as a dead duck. It's free, however, so I likely will continue to follow this series, and Maru the cat.

Sorry, only the first two episodes are free! Episode three is locked.

« Last Edit: May 14, 2018, 04:39:25 PM by mcarmichael »

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"If God if for us, who can be against us?" - St. Paul the Apostle"Just hang on!" - Luke Skywalker

Is anyone watching Cobra-Kai on youtube? I just found it last night, maybe it was the first day of release, idk.

Apparently it is produced by youtube, so I don't know if it's available in Canada. No idea what the plot is. I find myself feeling more sympathetic towards the anti-hero, v. the car salesman. It could be interesting, in an existential sense. Or, it could be lame as a dead duck. It's free, however, so I likely will continue to follow this series, and Maru the cat.

I was nostalgia-intrigued enough to watch all the teasers for it, but don't plan on watching the actual show.

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"Well, do I convince you, that one ought never to despair of the disorders of the soul as incurable? ...For even if thou shouldst despair of thyself ten thousand times, I will never despair of thee" - St. John Chrysostom

Is anyone watching Cobra-Kai on youtube? I just found it last night, maybe it was the first day of release, idk.

Apparently it is produced by youtube, so I don't know if it's available in Canada. No idea what the plot is. I find myself feeling more sympathetic towards the anti-hero, v. the car salesman. It could be interesting, in an existential sense. Or, it could be lame as a dead duck. It's free, however, so I likely will continue to follow this series, and Maru the cat.

Well, I may as well pay for it, maybe I'll get something out of it. Like did anyone watch Family Ties growing up, and at some time realize that in every episode Alex *Keaton lies about something, and then get's into trouble? Apparently I was more impressionable than even I realized, because eventually I became very frustrated with Alex *Keaton, and learned to hate him.

« Last Edit: May 20, 2018, 03:11:03 PM by mcarmichael »

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"If God if for us, who can be against us?" - St. Paul the Apostle"Just hang on!" - Luke Skywalker

Well, I may as well pay for it, maybe I'll get something out of it. Like did anyone watch Family Ties growing up, and at some time realize that in every episode Alex *Keaton lies about something, and then get's into trouble? Apparently I was more impressionable than even I realized, because eventually I became very frustrated with Alex *Keaton, and learned to hate him.

Oh, wait! I qualify for a free 30 day trial of the new youtube "Premium" service, so I guess it is free. You only have to remember to cancel before 30 days because it is too expensive.

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"If God if for us, who can be against us?" - St. Paul the Apostle"Just hang on!" - Luke Skywalker

Is anyone watching Cobra-Kai on youtube? I just found it last night, maybe it was the first day of release, idk.

I got no meaningful connection to the Karate Kid series but I enjoyed the first two episodes of Cobra Kai. Not enough to overcome my cheap nature, however, and continue on.

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"Take heed, you who listen to me: Our misfortune is inevitable, we cannot escape it. If God allows scandals, it is that the elect shall be revealed. Let them be burned, let them be purified, let them who have been tried be made manifest among you." - The Life of the Archpriest Avvakum by Himself

Caught an episode of the new Ducktales (it was the one with Gladstone Gander). Not too bad!

The writing was witty, the voice acting was good, I love the art style with the homages to Carl Barks's paintings and to the old comics. I even detected a little Mary Blair influence in the climax scene.

Is anyone watching Cobra-Kai on youtube? I just found it last night, maybe it was the first day of release, idk.

I got no meaningful connection to the Karate Kid series but I enjoyed the first two episodes of Cobra Kai. Not enough to overcome my cheap nature, however, and continue on.

Umm, I'm not sure if I mentioned it, but you may qualify for a free 30-day trial of youtube's "new" premium service. Or not, idk.

Well, anyway.

You did indeed mention it, right above my own post, but I guess I skimmed over and didn't quite register the words. Thanks. I'll look into it.

« Last Edit: May 26, 2018, 04:29:31 AM by Hawkeye »

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"Take heed, you who listen to me: Our misfortune is inevitable, we cannot escape it. If God allows scandals, it is that the elect shall be revealed. Let them be burned, let them be purified, let them who have been tried be made manifest among you." - The Life of the Archpriest Avvakum by Himself

The 3% (Brazilian dystopian show on Netflix). I've been enjoying it so far. We're in the 2nd season. For some reason sci-fi shows and movies rarely seem to have convincing insurgencies and "the Cause" is no exception. The Cause is really disorganized, has poor security, no coherent ideology, no stable leadership. In the real world they would have split three ways and been completely infiltrated. On the other hand the Offshore administration is really incompetent so it's hard to believe they would have been able to subjugate anyone. For one thing it makes no sense for the graduates of the Process to then be expected to risk their lives as the police and military in the inland. There's a reason why the Saudi military relies on foreign mercenaries or proxy militias, and not their pampered citizens, when there's real fighting to be done.

All the same I like the characters and it's generally interesting from a cultural perspective.

« Last Edit: May 31, 2018, 01:56:04 PM by Iconodule »

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Quote

When a time revolts against eternity, the only thing to set against it is genuine eternity itself, and not some other time which has already roused, and not without reason, a violent reaction against itself.

- Berdyaev

If you would like a private forum for non-polemical topics, comment here.

Yeah "the Cause" is a really, really lame name for a resistance movement.

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Quote

When a time revolts against eternity, the only thing to set against it is genuine eternity itself, and not some other time which has already roused, and not without reason, a violent reaction against itself.

- Berdyaev

If you would like a private forum for non-polemical topics, comment here.

Well, I may as well pay for it, maybe I'll get something out of it. Like did anyone watch Family Ties growing up, and at some time realize that in every episode Alex *Keaton lies about something, and then get's into trouble? Apparently I was more impressionable than even I realized, because eventually I became very frustrated with Alex *Keaton, and learned to hate him.

Yes, I watched Family Ties at the time because it was on after school & before supper every week day. I really disliked Alex and like you grew to hate him: how could he turn out so money-grubbing & insensitive with such great parents?

Watched The Mist, purportedly a TV adaptation of the Stephen King novel. I thought the 2007 film was a fine blend of semi-Lovecraftian monsters and social horror; I was hoping the show would build on that somehow. Unfortunately it is a pretty tedious affair, where the monsters are essentially reduced to the characters' psychic projections. I imagine the writers thought they were being clever or sophisticated with this move- "We're too smart for actual monsters! It's all psychology!" but the result is just hamfisted suburban melodrama and the primal, outer horror of the original concept is completely stripped away.

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Quote

When a time revolts against eternity, the only thing to set against it is genuine eternity itself, and not some other time which has already roused, and not without reason, a violent reaction against itself.

- Berdyaev

If you would like a private forum for non-polemical topics, comment here.

****Spoiler, if you care about shows about the inner working of symphonies****

A fairly accurate depiction of the people who become professional classical musicians, though I think Rodrigo would have been fired from the stand well before the finale.

I also thought the sub-sub-subplot about Rodrigo no longer being able to talk to the dead composers was too similar to the earlier storyline about how he became unable to hear music. But overall, I still liked it.

I would like to find the underground club from season 2 where Joshua Bell and Lang Lang play ping pong.

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Blessed Nazarius practiced the ascetic life. His clothes were tattered. He wore his shoes without removing them for six years.

THE OPINIONS HERE MAY NOT REFLECT THE ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED ORTHODOX CHURCH

'Evil isn't the real threat to the world. Stupid is just as destructive as evil, maybe more so, and it's a hell of a lot more common. What we really need is a crusade against stupid. That might actually make a difference.'~Harry Dresden

One of my favorite TV shows ever. Great acting and great writing. Will Geer ("Grandpa") was a brilliant actor.

“The power of the pen may be great, but in love it has failed me. Tomorrow I plan action.” ~ John-Boy Walton ~

“Using past failures as the seed of tomorrow’s defeat is a waste of the garden of life God has given us.” ~ John-Boy Walton ~

Selam

« Last Edit: July 27, 2018, 09:45:03 PM by Gebre Menfes Kidus »

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"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx

"Well, do I convince you, that one ought never to despair of the disorders of the soul as incurable? ...For even if thou shouldst despair of thyself ten thousand times, I will never despair of thee" - St. John Chrysostom

"Whether it’s the guillotine, the hangman’s noose, or reciprocal endeavors of militaristic horror, radical evil will never be recompensed with radical punishment. The only answer, the only remedy, and the only truly effective response to radical evil is radical love."+ Gebre Menfes Kidus +http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000984270/Rebel-Song.aspx

'Evil isn't the real threat to the world. Stupid is just as destructive as evil, maybe more so, and it's a hell of a lot more common. What we really need is a crusade against stupid. That might actually make a difference.'~Harry Dresden